Movie of the Week: Momma Mia!

Alexa: I’m not going to pretend that “Mamma Mia” is a cinematic masterpiece, but damn do I love this movie! It’s essentially a fun, sparkly fantasy with catchy music and Meryl Streep. What’s not to love? You don’t have to be an ABBA fan to enjoy this movie. I only knew a handful of songs when I first saw the stage musical, but it’s a delight in its own right. Yes, everything about this movie is Broadway-level big. There is no reigning it in, despite the screen being a more subtle medium. The direction isn’t exactly strong. The film adaptation is helmed by Phyllida Lloyd, who also directed the musical. It’s clear she has a deep love and understanding of the source material, but “Mamma Mia” is her film debut, and it shows. Given the story’s inherent campiness, though, she gets away with it. And it’s true that not everyone in the cast is the most stellar singer (I’m looking at you, Pierce Brosnan). But everyone is obviously having a fabulous time with this movie, and that sheer joy comes through to the viewer as well. Meryl Streep, it turns out, is a great comedic actress. More than any of her lauded dramatic roles, the fact that she shines so bright in a movie like “Mamma Mia” proves she is perfection in everything she touches, no matter the quality of the film itself. If you’re a mother or a daughter, I dare you not to get a little choked up during “Slipping Through My Fingers.” Every scene is a feast for the eyes, from the vibrant costumes to the gorgeous island setting. Throughout the entire movie, I was tapping my feet and had a huge smile on my face. There is enough turmoil in the world. A movie about love and family that’s overflowing with optimism is a much-needed treat.

Joel: For those who have somehow missed it, a sequel to this movie was released this past week, and is, at least in part, the reason the original is getting re-watched this week. It’s kind of been a running joke ever since the movie was announced. Why would anybody greenlight this movie? Are there any ABBA songs left to sing? Do we really need a Mamma Mia 2? And you know what? After watching the first one again, I can say exactly that. I want more of that please. Mamma Mia is an unbelievably fun movie. Yes, it’s light, yes it’s fluffy, but it’s so much fun. It’s upbeat, it’s happy, and it achieves every goal it sets for itself. It’s a fun story, filled with likeable characters, set to upbeat music. It will take a certain level of bitterness to go into this movie actively trying to hate it in order to keep from getting any joy out of this movie.

What really makes this work, is how much fun everyone seems to have being in this movie. Every cast member comes across as though they are having the time of their lives, like the movie is a giant party every day and they’re inviting the audience along to enjoy the celebration as well. It’s obviously not a perfect movie. Obviously, everyone’s go to complaint about Mamma Mia is that Pierce Brosnan can’t sing. It’s been such a common complaint about the movie for the past ten years that even those who’ve never watch the movie, are aware of at least that part. And yes, his singing voice is the roughest of anyone in the cast, but he dives into his songs with such enthusiasm and earnestness, that he still makes his part enjoyable to watch. He finds a way to make his character and musical moments, if not good, at least likable.

And that can be said for the whole movie. Where it’s good, it’s good. And even in areas where the movie isn’t as strong, it more than makes up for it in sheer likability. There’s a moment at the end, after the end really, where the three lead women are performing and Meryl Streep asks the audience if they want one more song. And yes, I genuinely wanted one more song. I wasn’t ready for the movie to be over, and I wanted that feeling of love, and joy and sheer fun to last for at least one more song.

Chris: Alternate title for this movie: "Pierce Brosnan Tries His Best, Bless His Heart." The movie is far from polished and air-tight but what it lacks in all the technical and dramatic categories, it makes up for in sheer joy and enthusiasm in much of the same sense as Set It Up a few weeks ago. And as much as the movie is focused on Meryl Streep, the main character of Momma Mia is the music of ABBA which is, in itself, light, enjoyable and simply fun. It is a musical that doesn't take itself too seriously and as long as you enjoy ABBA's music, you going to at least get a certain level of enjoyment out of it. I wasn't too familiar with the movie before and I kept expecting for some sort of fourth wall break where somebody mentions how much everybody on this island loves ABBA but no such luck. The only critique I have (and hopefully the sequel will make up for it) is that the song Fernando wasn't in it.